Featuring Alton Purnell

AllMusic Review
by Scott Yanow

The New Bull Moose Party Band features several bandmembers related to the Dukes of Dixieland'sAssunto family. Singer Fran Assunto Marois was the sister of Frank and Fred Assunto, her husband George Marois leads the group and plays trumpet, and their son Mike Marois doubles on tuba and electric bass. This Dixieland LP is most notable for featuring pianist/singer Alton Purnell, a veteran of the bands of Bunk Johnson and George Lewis. Alex Hunter has some fine clarinet and tenor solos but in general the four-horn octet (heard on their second of two LPs) is just slightly above-average. Highlights include "Glad Rag Doll," "Johnny Reb" and "Mr. Jelly Lord" but the occasional recreations of Dukes of Dixieland material fall short of the originals.